Berkshire Crisis and welfare Loans

This site offers advice and call forwarding options, and we are in no way affiliated with any organisation mentioned on this website. Calls to 084 numbers cost up to 7p per minute plus your network access charge.

Local authority support

Not available until 2 April 2013.

Where the local authority has outsourced welfare support any organisations and information will be held on this and associated pages above.

If the local authority are directly involved in welfare support through a contact address and / or number this is provided here, along with the circumstances under which the

Local authority

Support offered

Referral / Contact details

If this section is empty do not signpost the customer to the local authority.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Details to follow

Oxfordshire County Council

Details to follow

Reading Borough Council

Grant system. One application in a 12 month rolling period. No cash will be paid. Prepaid debit cards or bank account payments only.Crisis support – including living expenses, looking at using food parcels / food banks.Community Living Support – this would be a grant in support of independent living, exploring the use of recycled goods.

Reading Local Welfare Provision (LWP) services available on Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. There will be no out of hours service as support is already available through police, social services, and emergency planning teams.
As a discretionary service there will be no right of review or appeal.

Initial application is to be paper based followed by a face to face interview. To make an application:
Either in person at Reading Borough Council, Civic Centre, Reading, RG1 7AE.
Or phone 0118 937 3737 to book an appointment.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Grant system. Two schemes:

Crisis Support – for an emergency where there is a serious risk to health or safety of a person or family member.

Community Care Grant (CCG) – which more or less replicates the current CCG.

Limited to three awards per person in a rolling year. Wherever possible it is aimed to give a decision the same day but they are allowing up to 24 hours. There will be a reconsideration process, and if necessary will then follow the standard LA appeals/complaints process

One application in a 12 month rolling period. A Grant application only.
Applications for food will be signposted to food banks only.
No cash to be paid, only vouchers / pre-payment cards.
There will be a 5 working day turnaround for a decision to be made.
Claimants will be responsible for providing evidence that they are in receipt of benefit.

Reading CIRDIC (Churches In Reading Drop In Centre)
Meals, clean clothing and toiletries, bath and shower facilities, provision of a safe postal address, use of a telephone, provision of confirmation of identity, listening time. Regular access to and links with specialist services such as health care and housing.

Help provided to anyone from those experiencing financial difficulties to the homeless.

Faith Christian Group Reading
Food, clothing and bedding
Tuesday to Friday 8pm – 9pm offer soup, sandwiches, coffees and teas and will often have some free emergency supplies such as blankets, sleeping bags and gloves.
Sunday 5pm – 6pm hand out parcels of dry food, sandwiches coffees and teas.
Located at Hosier Street.

Food banks, food cards etc.

Trussell Trust
Search for local food banks via the Trussell Trust website; note that this site is best viewed in Firefox (Right click on the link, copy shortcut, paste into Firefox).Foodbank Referral Service.

Known local foodbanks

Organisation / Support offered

Eligibility

Referral / Contact details

Swindon Food Bank
Food parcels. Swindon Foodbank also helps by putting people in touch with agencies who can help resolve the underlying causes of the crisis.

Bracknell Kerith Community Foodbank
Provision of three days worth of food at any time, on production of a voucher (issued by CAB, GP, Health Visitor, church / charities). Also signposting to support agencies.
Mondays 12-2pm and Wednesday and Friday 12-2.30pm

White goods

Any known organisations providing replacement or help with white goods (Fridge/freezer etc.) will be provided below.

Organisation / Support offered

Eligibility

Referral / Contact details

Swindon / Gateway Furniture
Gateway Furniture receive donations of good quality furniture, appliances and household items that are no longer wanted or needed. They then resupply these to local people in need, free of charge.

People in genuine need

07540 726431

Christian Community Action Reading
Furniture, bedding and kitchenware
Open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

Citizens Advice

Find the address and contact details for local Citizens Advice via their website.
Where a specific local service is offered by CA for those in crisis this will be listed below.

Support offered

Contact details

Reading Community Welfare Rights Unit
Benefits, debts and housing advice
Open Mon to Thu 9am to 5pm and Fri 9am to 4pm. Drop in service Tue 9.30am to 12pm.

101 Oxford Road, Reading RG1 7UD
0118 955 1070

Reading Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Advice to help people resolve problems with debt, benefits, employment, housing, discrimination
Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm and Wed 1pm to 4pm. All appointments are by arrangement only.

Other welfare support

Support offered

Contact details

Organisation / Support offered

Eligibility

Referral / Contact details

Swindon Home Advice service
The Swindon Home Advice service is a Housing Options and Advice Directory for home-seekers across Swindon. Includes:
Private rented accommodation
How the council can help you
Sheltered and adapted accommodation
Hostels and supported accommodation
Help for owners
Low cost ownership schemes
Council and housing association Accommodation
Drug and alcohol services
Mental Health accommodation

Home-seekers in Swindon

Claimants can ring directly on 01793 445503, or if the enquiry is outside normal office hours, ring 01793 466451.